The hunt is on for Northern Ireland's best bartender - and the deadline is this weekend.

The Hennessy Connoisseurs Challenge is running for a second year in 2016 and seeks to uncover the stars of Northern Ireland’s cocktail scene.

Following the success of the inaugural challenge in 2015, drinks company, Dillon Bass - owners of the Hennessy brand in Northern Ireland – is bringing the prestigious competition back this summer, aiming to uncover NI’s top mixology talent.

The final will take place at Ox Cave in Belfast on Monday August 15, and is expected to draw interest from bartenders right across Northern Ireland.

Last year Frankie Cosgrove from sixty6 Belfast, Nathaniel McAuley from Muriel’s Café Bar and Roisin McErlean from Sweet Afton beat off stiff competition to be named Hennessy Connoisseurs.

The trio won an impressive money can’t buy prize package courtesy of Dillon Bass, which included a VIP all expenses paid trip to Cognac to visit Maison Hennessy and Chateau Bagnolet, where they received one-on- one training, including a tasting with Hennessy’s master blender.

This once in a lifetime immersive training experience is up for grabs once again, in what’s been tipped by the industry as one of the most exciting opportunities available to local bartenders.

The three winning Connoisseurs will have their signature drinks showcased on Hennessy digital platforms.

The international judging panel includes Vincent Borjon-Prive from Hennessy, Julie Dupouy, Brand Ambassador for Moet-Hennessy, recently named as one of the world’s top three sommeliers and Joel Neill from Hospitality Ulster.